[mingle] the space (april).

[fracturamods]

interim mingle

( WELCOME BACK, TRAVELERS. )

There's nothing but the clatter of train tracks, and the odd feeling of almost floating.

When you wake, it's hard to tell exactly what it is that you're missing - only that you are. There are pieces that aren't quite right, even if you're not sure where those pieces would normally be. Pieces of what, exactly....? Well, if you had to put a word to it, it would be - yourself, probably. Or did you get something back recently? In addition, characters will find that they've been allowed to bring back souvenirs from this most recent trip - trinkets, nothing violent, but items that can fit in your character's pockets, whether that be sentimental or otherwise.

The place you've found yourself in is strange, certainly. It's probably worth exploring a bit. For those who have been here a while, they might notice some expansions. Though it just as easily seems that the only form of welcome or explanation that you have, comes from nothing more than a slab of marble.

It might've changed since the last time you saw it. Today it reads:

(*´ω｀)o That wasn't so bad, was it?
Hey, you know how that old song goes?
Do you believe in magic? (☆▽☆) Do ya?

Hope you found what you were looking for!

You might have changed since the last time you saw yourself too - perhaps with a new emblem on your clothes, or a portrait on your skin. In addition to that, it seems like Home Base is on the fritz again…?

It seems that suddenly and at random, characters will be able to suddenly see visions of memories that aren't their own flash before their eyes. Pieces of your lives or where you were before this will suddenly slam into other's heads, as clearly as if they experienced the event and the feelings themselves. You might have an inkling of where your memory went and what it was - but you'll need to talk it out with that person in order to recollect it in all its strength back to yourself. Don't you want to keep those precious parts of yourself? It's best if you don't fall more to pieces while you're here. (Memories that have been lost in fragments cannot be sent to others - that's more fun for the future!)

There's no need to fret that much though. You've already gone through the ordeal once, and you might be able to see results from it. Or maybe you'll get a glimpse of where you're going next. Even so, it's best that you don't get too comfortable, because there is still the unshakeable feeling:

There's still much more ahead of you.

Comments

[souheki]

i. post-prom

[WELP Lan Wangji sure did fuckin die in prom world. But you know what, it's fine. He doesn't remember it, and, hey, accidents happen. He looks perfectly fine, and also not that much different even with his extra decade of age tacked back on. DAMN CULTIVATORS.

But one thing has changed--or rather, something has righted itself, finally. After several long months, Lan Wangji can finally be found practicing various sword forms with a steady hand. Or without any hands, whatever. The point is, he'll no longer be treating poor Bichen like a very sharp baseball bat. He'll still use it to cut up food and stuff, though, so jury's out on whether or not anything's really improved. You can join him or interrupt him if you'd like--he is, shockingly, more tolerant than his prom-world counterpart, and probably won't stab you out of irritation.

Occasionally, you might also see him flying around on his sword (sky-surfing? sword-surfing? THIS BUT MORE REFINED), patrolling The Space much the same way he did the halls of Algos Academy. If you need him for something, just wave or call his name and he'll land nearby. Unless you're planning to cause mischief.]

ii. memshare oh man

[WE GOT MEMSHARE CHOICES let me know which one you'd like!! I'll do my best to provide some sort of canon link, though whether it's a text excerpt or a snippet from the donghua or audio drama remains to be seen. You can share yours with me too!! Just hit me up if you wanna discuss further o7]

iii. wildcard

[HIT ME UP FOR ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED]

i!

[deadened]

[wen ning is going to join him while sword-surfing himself, actually! it's been some time since he was able to practice, so he's back at it now that they're in the space again and he has the ability. lan wangji gets a little bow as he hovers a little closer.]

Y-young master Lan. I'm glad to see you well, after... after everything in that place.

[the unintentional murder, and the.... oh boy, the mess that was that promposal.]

[souheki]

[Oh it's a Wen Ning! Lan Wangji's never actually seen him wield a sword in any capacity before, but it's a pleasant surprise to see him comfortably in the air. He is, quite honestly, still kind of adjusting to the sight of him alive. But of course that's no reason to be rude, so he nods, slowing down. They can take a leisurely surf-stroll through the... are there clouds?? THROUGH THE SKY.

PROM, THOUGH. He doesn't want to think about prom. He doesn't close his eyes, but the way he presses his lips together is--pained, to put it lightly. It's as understated as always, but he's clearly not happy.]

I am fine. Thank you. [(Is he though.) The first thing he'd done upon their return (while he nyoomed off to find Wei Wuxian and apologize profusely) was make sure that he'd had no lingering damages. From that, he could safely assume that no one else did either. He feels bad enough for causing harm in that world--if he'd found out any of it carried over here, he never would've forgiven himself.

Still, Wen Ning's situation was, and still is, unusual. So he glances over, appraising.] And you?

[deadened]

[a nice calm surf through the VOID, this is fine and chill. his brow furrows a little as he looks lan wangji over, because he is very used to people who just say they're fine every time... but honestly, he's not good at reading lan wangji yet. he can tell he's unhappy, that's about it.]

Oh, I... I'm fine as well! The, um, affliction I had there doesn't seem like it was a... a precursor to anything...

[because he was absolutely worried, on returning, that he'd find those same marks on his skin again, or his senses would remain dulled. that it meant he was returning to how he's supposed to be.

not so far, it seems.]

[souheki]

[Listen he's physically fine?? He's just. Recovering from the meltdown he had when he went to apologize for murdering Wei Wuxian repeatedly, and Wei Wuxian decided to make him feel better by going "LMAO IF MY ORGANS FALL OUT I'LL BE LOPSIDED".

Anyway.]

Mm. Good. [He isn't going to upset Wen Ning by saying he doubts this... vitality... is going to last forever, but he isn't lying--he's glad that Wen Ning returned, like the rest of them, much as he did when they'd left. If anyone deserves to enjoy life (Wei Wuxian notwithstanding, of course), it's the man beside him.

Still, with that in mind--] Has Wei Ying checked you over?

[Just to be sure. He assumes it was one of the first things Wei Wuxian did, all things considered.]

i.

[lqg]

[ he's seen a lot of sword tricks in his day, but liu qingge has never seen anyone fly on one. it's absolutely ridiculous, and fantastical, and if it weren't for the fact he was stuck in a damn jamjar and just went to a magic murder school he'd probably go back to bed and assume he was dreaming.

but it's real isn't it?

whenever lan wangji lands, liu qingge steps up to him, gives a polite greeting bow, and then, ] How did you do that?

[souheki]

[Ah yes. It's Professor--er, no. God, this is just going to get harder every time, isn't it?

But no, Lan Wangji remembers Liu Qingge from last time they were in the space. He'd been kind enough to offer to look out for his guqin, and while Lan Wangji still doesn't have that back, he won't forget the kindness. So he offers a polite bow in response, as his sword apparently sheaths itself.]

Cultivation. [A simple answer, since it's easy enough to figure out what Liu Qingge is talking about. It's still a little strange to him that not everyone can do so.] Anyone whose golden core is strong enough can do the same.

[lqg]

[ that... hm. he's talked about cultivation with lan wangji before and some others, and he really thought it was fake but seeing lan wangji actually fly it's harder to write it off.

it doesn't help that the thought of it, with the thought of golden cores and flying swords, tugs on something liu qingge can't grasp, like it's buried too deep for him to reach it or pull it out. weird. ]

Could you always do this? [ he doesn't remember him flying around before!]

[souheki]

[YER A WIZARD, LIU QINGGE]

Not here. [He could back home, but Liu Qingge isn't remembering incorrectly.] I'd lost the ability to wield my sword properly. I did not wish to take unnecessary risks.

[He's not sure if he could've flown or not, but he'd decided to err on the side of caution, given that any attempts to re-train himself refused to stick. He'd been perfectly fine with walking around, but it's definitely a relief to have everything back to normal.]

i

[carrotkeeper]

[Friendship ended with sword warping now sword surfing is her new best friend. This is one of the coolest things she's seen since in a long, long time. Sorry Noct.

He might mistake her sudden frantic wave in the air as a cry for help, but when he gets closer he's gonna realize his mistake because-]

You mind if I play with you? I have a great idea.

[souheki]

[Oh, hey, someone waving for his attention! Lan Wangji is absolutely going to assume she needs help with something, and descends quickly and gracefully. He doesn't do any fancy moves on the way, just steps off his sword once he's close enough to the ground, leaving it to hover beside him.

Yes, hello he's ready to help--

Oh. Hm. His brow furrows a tiny bit, the only change to his natural Resting Bitch Face.]

Play?

[Should his gremlin senses be tingling]

[carrotkeeper]

You're playing some kind of game, right? I totally want in. And since I can't really fly on a sword like that, I've got another idea. You ever play with a frisbee before?

[There are no gremlins around-it's fine. It's gucci. She would never steer him wrong!! It's just game time.]

[souheki]

No game. [Does he look like the sort of guy to play games???] I was patrolling.

[Sadly he is, in fact, the most boring adult in this entire place. SAVE YOURSELF IRIS.

He is, however, lucky that he's been assimilated in vaguely modern times twice, now, since he actually knows what a frisbee is!! (Even though he doesn't look like it, considering he's still wearing Ye Olde robes.) But that... doesn't stop him from shaking his head slightly.]

I have not.

ii

[glooming]

[ maybe i'll double tap so shinobu can get memories too

but hello please give utsutsu burying his "son" in rabbits and teaching him about the forehead ribbon

there's no starter because she'd probably just stare at him silently, as they both do, and get hit with the memory.

that's what i'm going with. ]

[souheki]

[DOUBLE MEMS.

ALSO HELLO NOT!DAUGHTER he is content to stand around and stare with her, yes. If she wants to walk, or sit, he'll be happy to do that with her as well. He is very good at quietly co-existing.

It is, perhaps, no surprise that the memory that flits away from him to her is very soft and cute, accompanied by the visual of a small child, dressed in simple white robes, playing happily and feeding the large group of white rabbits as they clamber over him. In the memory, Lan Wangji stays nearby, ready to intervene in case anything happens--but it is his brother who swoops in to lift the child up, safely away from their... pets?? Extremely docile wild animals??? WHAT EVEN IS THIS.

His brother, she'll probably notice, looks almost exactly like him. He's a little taller, but mostly, the difference is in his face--his open emotions and kind smiles. The Lan Wangji of Fractura is more expressive than he once was, but he still appears incredibly reserved, compared to someone like, y'know. Wei Wuxian.]

[glooming]

[ They can be walking until she receives his memory, and she stops.

She puts a hand to her head. It's soft and full of warmth and kindness... It makes her smile even if it also makes her feel wistful at the same time. There's a pang in her heart, one of longing and homesickness, of missing someone she's used to being with. ]

Adopted?

memshare baby

[dianxias]

[ gimme the indoctrination

after all, xie lian needs to go see lan wangji and apologize for the accidental murder, Again, for the hundredth time, so he will be seeking him out immediately! ]

[souheki]

[XIE LIAN PLEASE STOP APOLOGIZING FOR THINGS HE DOESN'T REMEMBER I'M CRYING.

Regardless, on his way, he'll get a fun little surprise! JUST KIDDING IT'S TERRIBLE.

It's a very clear memory, even though Lan Wangji is so clearly young here. 17, perhaps, or 18 at the oldest--and yet, his eyes are hard, stubborn, expression as unwavering as ever. He stands alone, defiant against the red and white soldier that holds a lit torch out to him. Other disciples, dressed like Lan Wangji, stand clustered and terrified nearby. They are powerless to help, though, and Lan Wangji does not expect them to.

The soldiers grab him too quickly, before he can fight back, and they break his leg without a moment's hesitation, letting him drop to the ground at the sound of snapping bone. He doesn't make a sound, doesn't give them the satisfaction of his pain--and really, it hurts more that he's too slow to drag himself back to his feet. He can't stop the soldiers from forcing the other Lans to set fire to the Library Pavilion, but he forces himself up anyway, drawing out his guqin and positioning himself between the Pavilion and the soldiers in front of him.

He stands defiant, and fights, even when every last string has snapped, and his fingertips are bloodied and useless. He lets the heat of the fire hold him upright, until finally, the last of his power drains out of his body. His home is ablaze, brother missing, people wounded--Lan Wangji must hold, for all of them. Not because he has any hope of winning, but because he is the only one left to prove that their spirits will not bend.

He passes out, at some point. He does not know who saves him from the fire. When he wakes, his leg is very poorly bound. But he barely has time to feel the pain before a Lan discipline hands him a letter, marked with the seal of Qishan Wen, with trembling hands.]

[dianxias]

[ pixi, readying a knife as i foolishly chose a memory

how familiar this scene is--how it aches. xie lian remembers the way xian le looked when he and his family had to flee with terrifying clarity. he knows what it's like to be the last bastion of strength, when the whole world is depending on you, and more than anything--he knows what it's like to fail. the determination that bleeds into desperation. the ache. the loss, so unbelievably large that it threatens to swallow you whole.

back then he'd never been powerless. he hadn't known what it was like until it was too late, and even now, it ebbs and tides at his memories in ways he hasn't been able to put quite away since montevallo. xie lian's heart aches for lan wangji, with a mixture of pride and hurt and empathy, as he stands in the memories that sear a heavy weight onto the shoulders of the young man he'd gotten to know. to keep fighting when all hope is lost is an incredible thing--his respect for lan wangji has only grown since they left that first world, and this solidifies it. a true cultivator, a true member of his family, his home--a truly upstanding, brave young man.

xie lian's feet move while it feels like there are ashes at the edge of his vision still, and it's only when he spots lan wangji's back all in white that he stops, calling out to him as he holds this precious, painful memory that doesn't belong to him, to give it back to its owner, stepping within reach and giving him a hurried fist in hand salute. ] Young master Lan, I-- I have something of yours, I think.

iii, with lwj sky-surfin'

[osuni]

[Okuni is going to wave and call his name as soon as she spots him SKY-SURFING??? she's also up to no good, but it's fine.

She has a giant super soaker water gun hooked up to one of the soda dispensers, but she'll abandon this in favor of running over to LWJ immediately,]

Lan Lan! I want to do it too! Let me try! Please! Lan Lan!

[let okuni hurtle to her death on bichen please... ALSO PIXI I CAN'T DECIDE ON THE MEMORY, LET OKUNI SEE SAD SMALL CHILD LAN LAN WAITING OUTSIDE HIS MOM'S DOOR IG]

[souheki]

[Wow that sure is an Okuni being up to no good down there!!!

He hovers in the air for a minute, like he's debating which is the lesser evil, but apparently he decides that leaving Okuni to her own devices is the more dangerous choice, so he descends gracefully, dismounting. His sword seems to sheath itself in its scabbard, ~magically~.]

You cannot.

[Denied.

Meanwhile, READIES MY PAINBALL ROCKET LAUNCHER]

[osuni]

[Lan Wang Ji really gracefully floated down like some Gusu Lan swan only to reject Okuni's deepest and most vivid wishes.... Sounds like every encounter she's ever had with him, to be honest. But before she can try and water pistol him in revenge, karma intervenes just in time to bop her with a memory. just a little memory... just a little, very sad memory, as a treat.





She does NOT LIKE THIS TREAT. This memory in particular is bad, in that a.) it's obviously a very intimate, personal memory that she absolutely cannot make fun of b.) LWJ in this memory is very young -- younger than when her and Baren lost their mother -- and Okuni's heart will always immediately go out to children no matter who they are and c.) that feeling of inescapable loneliness, of waiting for someone who will never come back, is so familiar. but there is no Baren sitting by his side, nor is he crying loud and long enough for someone to come and console him. he's just bearing it all on his tiny back, with his hands on his instrument only, staring at a door shut firmly in front of him.

Okuni does not immediately dive for the water pistol. Instead she goes very still, and places a hand on her face to cover her eyes, even though the corners of her mouth are visibly downturned.]

...I found one of your memories. [just that, because the whole point of this isn't to keep what she's seen to herself... even though a part of her wants to.] Do children always start playing an instrument at such a young age, or were you a special case?

ii a memshare

[goldenrepair]

[hi i told aki i was coming to give you this one

They don't even speak for it to happen. Jiang Cheng barely acknowledges Lan Wangji in passing, as they have been very wont to do. Brother-in-laws and stuff.

The memory whips out of him and smacks Lan Wangji upside the head, going full and hard without any decency to read the room.

This place isn't unfamiliar to Lan Wangji. It's a burial mound. It's the Burial Mound. The air feels more final this time, so it must be the last siege that will happen. There is a fearful resolve in him; he aches through the lungs as he runs--on foot--right up to where the energy has amassed in a smothering cloud.

His voice calls, "Wei Wuxian!" but it doesn't sound at all like his own. It's accusing, but also a little worried, both hard and soft all at once.

Wei Wuxian's hair is everywhere, and the energy is too strong. Distantly is the sound of corpses coming, too many of them, clawing and growling. "Wei Wuxian!" his voice demands again, and Wei Wuxian turns with the unstable Stygian Seal in hand. He's expecting--what? Betrayal? Rage? A look so dark and putrid it'll make all of his fears validated.

But the look is apologetic, of all things. Lan Wangji freezes in his tracks. "Wei Wuxian," his voice screams hoarsely over the noise, "get rid of it!" He means throw it, discard it into the chasm and let it eat up the corpses' attention, and they'll figure out how to deal with it after. Wei Wuxian only smiles suddenly, bitterly and hollow. I'm sorry, he mouths.

"Wei Wux--!"

Wei Wuxian howls and holds the seal up. The corpses swarm by, ignoring him, and he stares in horror. Realizes with growing certainty what is happening, what is being done. He raises his hand and starts forward, but the corpses begin tremoring from within, and the howl grows into a painful wail that splits. When the seal breaks, there's an explosion of energy that makes him stumble back. Something wet and warm hits him across the face and chest.

He brings his hand up to wipe it, to stare, and then he realizes as the memory's consciousness wavers to end, it's blood.]

:unamused:

[souheki]

[I'm still mad at both of you

Look at Lan Wangji just minding his own business! He's not even glaring at Jiang Cheng as they pass each other, or doing anything else petulant and bratty. He has no intention of ever liking Jiang Cheng, but he can accept peaceful coexistence, as long as he's allowed to ignore him.

He can't ignore this.

By now, it's practically familiar. He's been hit with more memories than he's lost himself, and they've each been intense, in their own way. But this is unlike any of the others. This one is so, so much worse.

He'd dreamt of this, before--well, after, really. His sect had been careful not to discuss their plans around him, after he'd proven just how far he'd been willing to go for Wei Wuxian. He was bedridden, half-delirious, every twitch and breath agonizingly painful, but they'd assumed that, were he to catch wind of their plans, he would draw from strength he didn't have and try to make it to Wei Wuxian's side anyway. They weren't wrong--it's exactly what he'd done when they'd forgotten themselves, cheering outside his window, celebrating the downfall of the tyrannical Yiling Patriarch.

He hadn't made it in time to fight (and, most likely, die) at Wei Wuxian's side. There was only so much he could glean from the total destruction of their surroundings, and then he'd had no room to think of anything but getting A-yuan to safety, before his broken body gave out and doomed both of them.

But after they'd made it home on the strength of a miracle, his grief had not let him known peace. He couldn't close his eyes without seeing the stained earth and felled trees, hearing the crack of brittle bones beneath his shoes, without the stench of death and resentment in every breath. He could not hope that Wei Wuxian had had a peaceful death, if that was what had been left behind. And with Jiang Cheng lauded as the victor, Lan Wangji's mind been quick to conjure up hundreds of violent, horrible scenarios. Sometimes, it was easier to imagine a confrontation he wasn't at, than it was to remember what Wei Wuxian's true smile looked like.

This is not what he'd pictured. The emotions are all wrong--they're too fraught, sharp edges in all the wrong places, but brittle, like it'll take no more than a glance from him for everything to crumble and reveal everything he doesn't want seen. These feelings are too strong for someone who'd claimed not to care, who'd driven a wedge between himself and his brother. They are not the feelings of someone leading a righteous crusade.

When Lan Wangji comes back to himself, he's on his hands and knees, struggling to breathe through the crushing weight in his chest.]

:relieved:

[goldenrepair]

[It's true they don't exactly get along, but despite Jiang Cheng's shortcomings, he's still very much a leader of respect. The memory makes him rigid until he doesn't have it anymore.

It's gone. Or... fleeting maybe. It feels like he's throw it to Lan Wangji as if they have passed a ball between them.

So he can move again for the most part, and he crosses over to kneel down and grasp one of Lan Wangji's arms. No use in acting like he doesn't possess some manners--at least cultivational ones.] Hanguang-jun. [He doesn't try to lift them up, but remains steady. He hasn't forgotten how wild the memories toss you about.]

They've been happening without warning.